COOKING APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR RECIPE ADJUSTMENT

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to cooking appliances, and more particularly to a method for recipe adjustment at a cooking appliance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cooking appliances, such as oven and microwave appliances, may include cooking modes for automated cooking time and power for various foods. However, a user may desire different levels of doneness for foods cooked using automated cooking modes, or require different steps, or changes to the steps, to a recipe. The user may manually enter changes to the automated cooking mode or recipe to obtain the desired level of doneness. The user may manually change steps to the recipe. Additionally, the user may be required to manually monitor cooking of the food, rather than relying on predetermined or automated audio or visual signals. However, such manual changes and monitoring detract from the automation of the cooking mode by requiring manual entry or manual overrides.

Accordingly, a cooking appliance, and a method for recipe adjustment, that removes one or more of these drawbacks would be beneficial and advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a cooking appliance including a controller configured to store or receive instructions that, when executed, causes the cooking appliance to perform operations. The operations include obtaining a user cooking mode signal corresponding to a cooking mode; determining a change from the cooking mode by comparing the cooking mode to a cooking metric; determining a difference between the cooking metric and the cooking mode; and generating an output signal to the user communicating the difference between the cooking mode and the cooking metric.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a cooking appliance including a controller configured to store or receive instructions that, when executed, causes the cooking appliance to perform operations. The operations include obtaining a user cooking mode signal corresponding to a cooking mode; obtaining, via an imaging device, a cooking metric; determining a change from the cooking mode by comparing the cooking mode to a cooking metric; determining a difference between the cooking metric and the cooking mode; and generating an adjusted cooking mode after exceeding a quantity of instances of differences between the cooking metric versus the cooking mode.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for adjusting a cooking mode at a cooking appliance. The method includes obtaining a user cooking mode signal corresponding to a cooking mode; obtaining, via an imaging device and a temperature sensor, a cooking metric; determining a change from the cooking mode by comparing the cooking mode to a cooking metric; and determining a difference between the cooking metric and the cooking mode.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 provides a front view of an exemplary cooking appliance with the door in a closed position according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 provides a front view of an interior of a cooking chamber of an exemplary cooking appliance according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 provides a schematic view of a system for adjusting a cooking mode or recipe according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 provides a flowchart outlining steps of a method for adjusting a cooking mode or recipe according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

As used herein, terms of approximation, such as “generally,” or “about” include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. In the context of an angle or direction, such terms include values within ten degrees greater or less than the stated direction. For example, “generally vertical” includes directions within ten degrees of vertical in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Embodiments of a cooking appliance and method for recipe or cooking mode adjustment are provided herein. Embodiments of the cooking appliance and method provided herein may provide a system and method for updating an automated cooking mode or recipe.

As used herein, “cooking mode” may refer to heating, cooling, wait periods, flows, and other functions, controls, or commands as may be performed, or commanded to, a cooking appliance. “Cooking mode” may additionally, or alternatively, include visual and/or audio signals, control signals, electronic communications, or references to recipes, or steps thereof, as may be performed by, or commanded to, the cooking appliance (e.g., heating, cooling, waiting, etc.) or the user (e.g., addition of ingredients, movements, wait periods, steps, etc.).

Embodiments provided herein include determining a change from a predetermined cooking mode by comparing the cooking mode to a cooking metric. Embodiments may include obtaining the cooking metric relative to a stored or executed cooking mode. The embodiment may include obtaining a user cooking mode signal corresponding to a user-selected cooking mode. For instance, the user may select a cooking mode corresponding to a desired food (e.g., meat, poultry, fish, vegetable, starch, etc., or combinations thereof). The user cooking mode signal includes one or more predetermined cooking times, cooking positions, periods of time for cooking the food, or instructions associated with cooking the food (e.g., audio and/or visual instructions provided to a display, control interface, or remote device, etc., e.g., instructing recipe steps, wait/cooling/heating times, addition of ingredients, etc.). The user cooking mode signal includes temperature settings and outputs, control commands, and timers for operating the cooking device corresponding to the cooking mode.

The cooking metric may be obtained by an imaging device, a timer device, a temperature sensor, or a user input signal corresponding to a control command. The cooking metric may include one or more of a cooking temperature, a cooking position, or one or more a period of time. The cooking position includes placement, removal, turning, flipping, changing rack or heating elements, or other physical manipulation of food at a cooking chamber, heating element, or cookware device. The period of time includes one or more elapses of time for which the food is provided at the cooking temperature and/or at the cooking position.

For instance, the imaging device may include a camera operably coupled to a processor and configured to determine the cooking position of the food, such as when food is placed, removed, or manipulated at a cooking chamber, heating element, or cookware device. The temperature sensor may determine the cooking temperature at the cooking chamber, heating element, or cookware device, or may include a sensor directed to the food to determine an internal or surface temperature at the food. The timer device may determine the period of time for which the food is provided at the cooking temperature, or at the cooking position, or combinations thereof.

The user input signal may include any one or more inputs at a control interface at the appliance or remote device that alters a cooking temperature, a timer, or operation of a heating element. Operation of the heating element may include operation of a dual-eye heating element, an upper or lower oven element or one or more zonal heating elements, a conventional or convection heating element, etc. The control command includes one or more of a cooking temperature signal, a timing signal, or an on/off signal to provide or discontinue heat, timing, or other appliance function.

A computing device, such as a local appliance controller or a remote computing device (e.g., cloud computing server, smartphone, tablet, other appliance, etc.), monitors and determines a difference between the cooking metric and the predetermined cooking mode or recipe. The computing device may compare a quantity of instances of the differences between the cooking metric versus the cooking mode. The computing device may generate an output signal to the user reflecting the difference between the predetermined cooking mode and a prior-obtained cooking metric, or average of a plurality of obtained cooking metrics, or a plurality of obtained cooking metrics at or above a threshold quantity of occurrences. The output signal may include an audio and/or visual signal communicating to the user the difference(s) between the predetermined cooking mode and the cooking metric based on the user's prior actions relative to the cooking mode.

The computing device may be configured to generate an adjusted cooking mode after exceeding a quantity of instances of differences between the cooking metric versus the cooking mode. The adjusted cooking mode may form a new predetermined cooking mode based on the prior-obtained cooking metric, such as may correspond to historic user inputs and changes. The new predetermined cooking mode may be automatically utilized by the cooking appliance. Additionally, or alternatively, the adjusted cooking mode may be stored as a version that is selectable by the user in addition to, or separately from, the initial predetermined cooking mode.

The computing device may be configured to obtain from the user a user signal corresponding to storing a version of the cooking mode, or replacing the predetermined cooking mode with the adjusted cooking mode.

Additionally, or alternatively, embodiments may include generating the output signal suggesting manual user changes to the cooking mode based on the prior-obtained cooking metric.

Embodiments of the cooking appliance and method provided herein may improve cooking performance by facilitating customization of recipes, cooking times, temperatures, or cooking positions based on user preference (e.g., levels of doneness, browning, texture, etc.), differences in environment (e.g., altitude, humidity, ambient temperature, ambient pressure, etc.), differences in heat source (e.g., gas, electric, conventional, convection, etc.), or other differences in environment, appliance, user preference, or ingredients. Embodiments provided herein may improve communication and recording of recipes among a plurality of users, such as user-specific differences in recipe or cooking mode, that may otherwise reside with a single user.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, for this exemplary embodiment, cooking appliance 100 may include an insulated cabinet 102 with an interior cooking chamber 104 defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a pair of opposing side walls. Cooking chamber 104 is configured for the receipt of cookware and one or more food items to be cooked. Cooking appliance 100 includes a door 108 pivotally mounted, e.g., with one or more hinges (not shown), to cabinet 102 at the opening 106 of cabinet 102 to permit selective access to cooking chamber 104 through opening 106. A handle 110 may be mounted to door 108 to assist a user with opening and closing door 108. For example, a user can pull on handle 110 to open or close door 108 and access cooking chamber 104.

Referring still to FIGS. 1-2, cooking appliance 100 may include a seal (not shown) between door 108 and cabinet 102 that assists with maintaining heat and cooking vapors within cooking chamber 104 when door 108 is closed as shown in FIGS. 1-2. A glass pane 122, or multiple glass panes, provide for viewing the contents of cooking chamber 104 when door 108 is closed and assist with insulating cooking chamber 104. A baking rack may be positioned in cooking chamber 104 for the receipt of food items or cookware devices (e.g., utensils) containing food items. For example, the cooking chamber may include a first baking rack 142 and a second baking rack 144. Each of first baking rack 142 and second baking rack may be conveniently moved into and out of cooking chamber 104 when door 108 is open (i.e., via rails provided on each of side walls). First baking rack 142 may be arranged above second baking rack 144 (e.g., in the vertical direction V). Thus, first baking rack 142 may be closer to top wall of cabinet 102 than second baking rack 144.

One or more heating elements may be provided at the top, bottom, or both of cooking chamber 104, and may provide heat to cooking chamber 104 for cooking. Such heating element(s) can be gas, electric, microwave, or a combination thereof. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, cooking appliance 100 includes a first top heating element 124 and a second top heating element 126, where second top heating element 126 is positioned adjacent to first top heating element 124. Other configurations with or without a wall may be used as well. For instance, a bottom heating element may be incorporated in addition to, or alternatively to, the first and second top heating elements 124 and 126.

In some embodiments, cooking appliance 100 may additionally, or alternatively, have a convection heating element 136 and convection fan 138 positioned adjacent the back wall of cooking chamber 104. Convection fan 138 may be powered by a convection fan motor. Further, convection fan 138 may be a variable speed fan i.e., the speed of fan 138 may be controlled or set anywhere between and including, e.g., zero and one hundred percent (0%-100%). In certain embodiments, cooking appliance 100 also includes a bidirectional triode thyristor (not shown), i.e., a triode for alternating current (TRIAC), to regulate the operation of convection fan 138 such that the speed of fan 138 may be adjusted during operation of cooking appliance 100. The speed of convection fan 138 may be determined by controller 140 (FIG. 1). In addition, a sensor such as, e.g., a rotary encoder, a Hall effect sensor, or the like, may be included at the base of fan 138 to sense the speed of fan 138. The speed of fan 138 may be measured in, e.g., revolutions per minute (“RPM”). In some embodiments, the convection fan 138 may be configured to rotate in two directions, e.g., a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposing the first direction of rotation. For example, in some embodiments, reversing the direction of rotation, e.g., from the first direction to the second direction or vice versa, may still direct air from the back of the cavity. As another example, in some embodiments reversing the direction results in air being directed from the top and/or sides of the cavity rather than the back of the cavity.

In various embodiments, more than one convection heater, e.g., more than one convection heating elements 136 and/or convection fans 138, may be provided. In such embodiments, the number of convection fans and convection heaters may be the same or may differ, e.g., more than one convection heating element 136 may be associated with a single convection fan 138. Similarly, top heating elements and/or bottom heating elements may be provided in various combinations, e.g., one top heating element with two or more bottom heating elements, two or more top heating elements 124, 126 with no bottom heating element, etc.

Referring back to FIG. 1, cooking appliance 100 may include a user interface 128 having a display 130 positioned on an interface panel 132 and having a variety of user input devices, e.g., controls 134. Interface 128 may allow the user to select various options for the operation of oven 100 including, e.g., various cooking and cleaning cycles. Operation of cooking appliance 100 may be regulated by a controller 140 that is operatively coupled, i.e., in communication with, user interface 128, heating elements 124, 126, 136 and other components of oven 100 as will be further described.

For example, in response to user manipulation of the user interface 128, controller 140 may operate the heating element(s), timer devices, or other control elements of the cooking appliance 100. Controller 140 may receive measurements from one or more temperature sensors 160. Controller 140 may also provide information such as a status indicator, e.g., a temperature indication, to the user with display 130. Controller 140 may also be provided with other features as will be further described herein.

Controller 140 may include a memory and one or more processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs, or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of cooking appliance 100. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. The memory may store information accessible by the processor(s), including instructions that can be executed by processor(s). For example, the instructions can be software or any set of instructions that when executed by the processor(s), cause the processor(s) to perform operations. For the embodiment depicted, the instructions may include a software package configured to operate the system to, e.g., execute the exemplary methods described below. Controller 140 may also be or include the capabilities of either a proportional (P), proportional-integral (PI), or proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control for feedback-based control implemented with, e.g., temperature feedback from one or more sensors.

Controller 140 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout cooking appliance 100. In the illustrated embodiment, controller 140 is located next to user interface 128 within interface panel 132. In other embodiments, controller 140 may be located under or next to the user interface 128 otherwise within interface panel 132 or at any other appropriate location with respect to cooking appliance 100. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, input/output (“I/O”) signals are routed between controller 140 and various operational components of cooking appliance 100 such as heating elements 124, 126, 136, convection fan 138, controls 134, display 130, alarms, and/or other components as may be provided. In one embodiment, user interface 128 may represent a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) device or functional block.

In the illustrated embodiments, the user input device is provided as touch type controls 134. However, it should be understood that controls 134 and the configuration of cooking appliance 100 shown in FIG. 1 are illustrated by way of example only. For example, the user interface 128 may be provided as a touchscreen which provides both the display 130 and the controls 134. As further examples, the user interface 128 may include various input components, such as one or more of a variety of electrical, mechanical, or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary dials, push buttons, and touch pads. User interface 128 may include other display components, such as a digital or analog display device designed to provide operational feedback to a user. In some embodiments, user interface 128 may be in communication with controller 140 via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. In other embodiments, the user interface 128 may be configured as an external computing device or remote user interface device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or other device capable of connecting to the controller 140.

Referring briefly to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the cooking appliance 100 may be included as an interconnected system 200 of computing devices communicatively coupled over a computing network 210. The computing network 210 may include a wired or wireless local area network (LAN), an interconnected system of appliances or computing devices, or internet-connectivity network. A remote computing device 220 may include a remote user interface device, such as a handheld user interface with a display thereon, e.g., a touchscreen display. The remote computing device 220 may connect to the controller 140 wirelessly using any suitable wireless connection, such as, but not limited to, wireless radio, WI-FI®, BLUETOOTH®, ZIGBEE®, laser, infrared, and any other suitable device or interface. For example, in some embodiments, the remote computing device may be an application or “app” executed by a remote user interface device such as a smartphone, a tablet, or another appliance. Signals generated in controller 140 may operate appliance 100 in response to user input via the user interface 128 at the cooking appliance 100 or remote computing device 220.

While cooking appliance 100 is shown as a wall oven, the present invention could also be used with other cooking appliances such as, e.g., a stand-alone oven, an oven with a stove-top, or other configurations of such ovens. Numerous variations in the oven configuration are possible within the scope of the present subject matter. For example, variations in the type and/or layout of the controls 134, as mentioned above, are possible. As another example, the cooking appliance 100 may include multiple doors 108 instead of or in addition to the single door 108 illustrated. Such examples include a dual cavity oven, a French door oven, and others. The examples described herein are provided by way of illustration only and without limitation.

In some embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 2, cooking chamber 104 may be divided into several distinct heating zones. For instance, cooking chamber 104 may include a first heating zone 152, a second heating zone 154, and a third heating zone 156. It should be understood that any suitable number of heating zones may be incorporated into cooking chamber 104, including more or less than three heating zones. Each of the heating zones may be spaced apart from one another (e.g., along the vertical direction V, the lateral direction L, and/or transverse direction T). In other words, the first heating zone 152 may be spaced apart from the second heating zone 154 and the third heating zone 156, etc. Accordingly, each heating zone may be controlled separately from one another (e.g., to or at a different temperature or power level, using a different criterion, or using a different heating cycle).

In one example, first heating zone 152 corresponds to first top heating element 124. In other words, first top heating element 124 may be configured to provide heat to the first heating zone 152. First top heating element 124 may be located predominantly to a first side of cooking chamber 104 in the lateral direction L (e.g., proximal to the first side, distal to an opposite second side, and/or otherwise corresponding to first heating zone 152). Accordingly, first top heating element 124 may provide heat predominantly to first heating zone 152 while having reduced heating impact on second heating zone 154 and third heating zone 156. First heating zone 152 may be positioned at or near a top of cooking chamber 104. For example, first heating zone 152 may correspond to first baking rack 142 (e.g., a first half thereof). Accordingly, first heating zone 152 may be a first broil zone.

Similarly, second heating zone 154 may correspond to second top heating element 126. In other words, second top heating element 126 may be configured to provide heat to the second heating zone 154. Second top heating element 126 may be located predominantly to the second side of cooking chamber 104 in the lateral direction L (e.g., proximal to the second side, distal to the first side, and/or otherwise corresponding to second heating zone 154). Accordingly, second top heating element 126 may provide heat predominantly to second heating zone 154 while having reduced heating impact on first heating zone 152 and third heating zone 156. Second heating zone 154 may be positioned at or near a top of cooking chamber 104. Additionally, or alternatively, second heating zone 154 may be adjacent to first heating zone 152 in the lateral direction L. For example, second heating zone 154 may correspond to first baking rack 142 (e.g., a second half thereof). Accordingly, second heating zone 154 may be a second broil zone. In some embodiments, second top heating element 126 does not overlap with first heating zone 152 (e.g., in a vertical direction). For example, first top heating element 124 is positioned vertically over first heating zone 154 and second heating element 126 is positioned vertically over second heating zone 156.

Third heating zone 156 may be defined spaced apart from first heating zone 152 and second heating zone 154. For instance, third heating zone 156 may be located beneath first heating zone 152 and second heating zone 154 in the vertical direction V, as shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, third heating zone 156 is a baking zone. Accordingly, third heating zone 156 may receive heat primarily from a third heating element, e.g., a bottom heating element, or convection heating element 136. However, this embodiment is not limited, and third heating zone 156 may receive heat from a bottom heating element, a side heating element, or a combination of available heating elements.

Each of the first heating zone 152, second heating zone 154, and third heating zone 156 may be controlled according to an individual cooking mode. For example, each of the first heating zone 152, second heating zone 154, and third heating zone 156 may be controlled according to a cooking temperature, cooking time, or period of time. The individual cooking modes may be classified as power levels, and may be the same, or, in some instances, different from each other.

In some embodiments, an imaging device or camera 158 is provided within cooking chamber 104. Generally, camera 158 may be a video camera, a digital camera, or other imaging device with an electronic image sensor, e.g., a charge coupled device (CCD) or a CMOS sensor. Camera 158 may be configured to obtain images in visible light, infrared light (IR), or other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. When assembled, camera 158 is in communication (e.g., wired or wireless communication) with controller 140 such that controller 140 may receive a signal from camera 158 corresponding to the image captured by camera 158. Camera 158 may be configured to capture images of cooking chamber 104 (e.g., an interior of cabinet 102), or cookware devices at the cooking chamber 104. For instance, camera 158 may capture images of cookware placed in each of first heating zone 152, second heating zone 154, and/or third heating zone 156, etc.

One or more cameras 158 may be located in any suitable location within cooking chamber 104, such that each of first heating zone 152, second heating zone 154, and/or third heating zone 156 are visible to camera 158. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, camera 158 may be located at or near a top of cooking chamber 104 in the vertical direction V (e.g., between the first and second heating elements 124, 126 along the lateral direction L). Additionally or alternatively, camera 158 may be located at or near a center of cooking chamber 104 in the lateral direction L. The specific location of camera 158 is not limited, however, and one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate multiple potential locations for camera 158. Embodiments of the cooking appliance 100 include the camera 158 operably and communicatively coupled to the controller 140 to generate and transmit signals to the controller 140, such as based on one or more steps of a method for adjusting a recipe or cooking mode described herein.

Referring briefly to FIG. 3, a schematic view of a system for recipe or cooking mode adjustment is provided (hereinafter, “system 200”). Embodiments of the system 200 may include one or more embodiments of cooking appliance 100. It should be appreciated that embodiments of the cooking appliance 100 may include one or more oven appliances 112, 114, such as configured in regard to cooking chamber 104, door 108, camera 158, and heating elements described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, cooking appliance 100 may include a cooktop appliance 116 having one or more stovetop heating elements 118 configured as gas, electric, or induction heating elements, or combinations thereof. Heating elements 118 may be configured as single or dual-zone heating elements or burner zones, such as having two or more concentric heating elements or burner zones. One or more imaging devices may be positioned relative to the heating elements 118 to capture images associated with food and/or cookware devices positioned at, or removed from, the cooktop appliance 116.

It should be appreciated that embodiments of the system 200 may include any one or more configurations or cooking appliance, such as, but not limited to, oven appliances, cooktop appliances, microwave appliances, induction heaters, or other cooking apparatuses.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a flowchart outlining steps of a method for cooking mode or recipe adjustment are provided (hereinafter, “method 1000”). One or more steps of the method 1000 may be stored as instructions at the controller 140, remote device 220, or computing network 210. Instructions may be communicated to the cooking appliance, such as one or more embodiments of the cooking appliance 100 depicted and described herein, via signals generated from sensors, imaging devices, or user inputs such as described herein. It should be appreciated that embodiments of the method 1000 may be stored or performed at various embodiments of cooking appliance 100, or other configurations of cooking appliance generally described herein.

Method 1000 includes at 1010 obtaining a user cooking mode signal corresponding to a user-selected cooking mode. For instance, the user may select a cooking mode corresponding to a desired food (e.g., meat, poultry, fish, vegetable, starch, etc., or combinations thereof). The user cooking mode signal includes one or more predetermined cooking times, cooking positions, periods of time for cooking the food, or instructions associated with cooking the food (e.g., audio and/or visual instructions provided to a display, control interface, or remote device, etc.). The user cooking mode signal includes temperature settings and outputs, control commands, and timers for operating the cooking device corresponding to the cooking mode.

Method 1000 includes at 1020 determining a change from a predetermined cooking mode. Method 1000 at 1020 may include determining a change from a predetermined cooking mode by comparing the cooking mode to a cooking metric. In some embodiments, method 1000 may include at 1022 obtaining the cooking metric relative to the stored or executed cooking mode. For instance, obtaining the cooking metric may include correlating or corresponding the cooking metric to the cooking mode, or a cooking parameter of the cooking mode. The cooking parameter may include one or more of a cooking temperature, a cooking position, or one or more of a period of time.

The cooking metric may be obtained by an imaging device (e.g., imaging device 158), a timer device (e.g., a timer function at controller 140, user interface 128, computing device 220, or other appropriate timer device), a temperature sensor (e.g., temperature sensor 160), or a user input signal corresponding to a control command (e.g., user input signal received at user interface 128, computing device 220, or other appropriate user interface). The cooking metric may include one or more of a set or actual cooking temperature, a cooking position, or one or more a period of time.

The cooking position includes placement, removal, turning, flipping, changing rack or heating elements, or other physical manipulation of food at a cooking chamber, heating element, or cookware device. For instance, the imaging device 158 may be configured to detect, record, monitor, or capture the cooking position at the cooking appliance 100. The cooking position may include placement at one or more heating zones 152, 154, 156, or one or more heating elements 118, or single, dual, or multi-zone heating elements or burner zones. The cooking position may include whether the food or cookware device is positioned at the cooking chamber 104, the heating zones 152, 154, 156, or the heating element 118, or removed therefrom. The cooking position may include whether the food or cookware device is flipped, turned, covered, uncovered, or other manipulation of the food.

The period of time includes one or more elapses of time for which the food is provided at the cooking temperature and/or at the cooking position. For instance, the period of time may include an elapsed time for which the food or cookware device is at, or removed from, one or more cooking positions. For instance, a first period of time may include an elapsed time for which the food or cookware device is at, or removed from, the cooking chamber 104, the heating zones 152, 154, 156, convection heating element 136, fan 138, or the heating element 118. A second period of time may include an elapsed time for which the food or cookware device is exposed to, or removed from, the set or actual cooking temperature at the cooking position. The periods of time may be delineated by changes in cooking position, changes in set or actual cooking temperature, or both.

In various embodiments, the imaging device 158 may be operably coupled to the controller 140 and configured to determine the cooking position of the food. The imaging device 58, the temperature sensor 160, or both, may be configured to determine the cooking temperature at the cooking chamber, heating element, or cookware device, or may include a sensor directed to the food to determine an internal or surface temperature at the food. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller 140 may command a set temperature at the cooking appliance 100, such as at the cooking chamber 104, the heating zones 152, 154, 156, convection heating element 136, fan 138, or the heating element 118. The user interface 128 may include a timer device configured to determine the period of time for which the food is provided at one or more cooking temperatures, or at one or more cooking positions, or combinations thereof.

The user may provide the user input signal including any one or more inputs at the user interface 128 at the cooking appliance 100 or computing device 220 that alters a cooking temperature, a timer, or operation of a heating source (e.g., one or more heating zones 152, 154, 156, convection heating element 136, fan 138, heating element 118). The control command includes one or more of a cooking temperature signal for setting a cooking temperature or power at one or more heating zones 152, 154, 156, convection heating element 136, fan 138, or heating element 118. The control command includes one or more of a timing signal or an on/off signal to provide or discontinue heat, power, timing, or other appliance function.

Method 1000 includes at 1030 determining a difference between the cooking metric and the predetermined cooking mode or recipe. For instance, the controller 140, the network 210, or the computing device 220 may monitor and determine the difference between the cooking metric and the cooking mode. Method 1000 at 1030 may include at 1032 comparing a quantity of instances of the differences between the cooking metric versus the cooking mode.

Method 1000 may include at 1040 generating an output signal to the user communicating the difference between the predetermined cooking mode and the cooking metric. Method 1000 at 1040 may include communicating the difference between the cooking mode and the cooking metric, or an average of a plurality of obtained cooking metrics, or a plurality of obtained cooking metrics at or above a threshold quantity of occurrences. For instance, the threshold quantity of occurrences may include after one (1) occurrence of the cooking metric changed versus the cooking mode, or after three (3) occurrences of the cooking metric changed versus the cooking mode, or after five (5) occurrence of the cooking metric changed versus the cooking mode, etc. In another instance, the threshold quantity of occurrences may correspond to a plurality of changes in a first cooking metric corresponding to cooking temperature, or may correspond to a plurality of changes in a second cooking metric corresponding to a cooking position, or may correspond to plurality of changes in a third cooking metric corresponding to a period of time, etc.

In some embodiments, the controller 140, the user interface 128, or computing device 220 is configured to generate the output signal. The output signal may include an audio and/or visual signal communicating to the user the difference(s) between the predetermined cooking mode and the cooking metric, such as based on the user's prior actions relative to the cooking mode.

In some embodiments, method 1000 includes at 1050 generating an adjusted cooking mode after exceeding a quantity of instances of differences between the cooking metric versus the cooking mode. The adjusted cooking mode may form a new predetermined cooking mode based on the cooking metric obtained at 1022. The obtained cooking metric may correspond to historic user inputs and changes. The new predetermined cooking mode generated at 1050 may be automatically utilized by the cooking appliance. Additionally, or alternatively, in some embodiments, the adjusted cooking mode may be stored as a version that is selectable by the user in addition to, or separately from, the initial predetermined cooking mode (e.g., selected at 1010).

Method 1000 may include at 1052 obtaining from the user a user signal corresponding to storing a version of the cooking mode, or replacing the predetermined cooking mode with the adjusted cooking mode. For instance, the user signal may determine whether the adjusted cooking mode replaces the initial cooking mode (e.g., selected at 1010), or stores a version of the cooking mode accessible in addition to the initial cooking mode.

In some embodiments, method 1000 may additionally, or alternatively, include at 1054 generating the output signal suggesting manual user changes to the cooking mode based on the obtained cooking metric (e.g., obtained at 1022). For instance, method 1000 may generate an audio and/or visual signal communicating to the user (e.g., via the user interface 128, display 130, or computing device 220) changes to the recipe or cooking mode based on method 1000 at 1020 or 1030.

Embodiments of the cooking appliance 100, system 200, and method 1000 provided herein may improve cooking performance by facilitating customization of recipes, cooking times, temperatures, or cooking positions based on user preference (e.g., levels of doneness, browning, texture, etc.), differences in environment (e.g., altitude, humidity, ambient temperature, ambient pressure, etc.), differences in heat source (e.g., gas, electric, conventional, convection, etc.), or other differences in environment, appliance, user preference, or ingredients. Embodiments provided herein may improve communication and recording of recipes among a plurality of users, such as user-specific differences in recipe or cooking mode, that may otherwise reside with a single user.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.